Digital Installation Project // Tel-Aviv University, 2017
MEET_WENDY
The Living Vending Machine
Collaboration with: Tom Melloul, Lealla Solomon, Yaron Zakay
Tutors: Prof. Arch. Eran Neunman, Arch. Tamir Lavie
MEET WENDY reimagines the vending machine, not just as a dispenser of products, but as a portal for personal and introspective exploration. This interactive installation draws inspiration from the ubiquitous vending machines in Tokyo, reflecting their cultural significance in Japan. Wendy invites individuals to physically step inside, engaging them in a space where they become part of the machine's process.
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Inside WENDY, participants are surrounded by sensors that detect and respond to their movements and presence. The machine reacts with an array of sounds, lights, and video projections, creating a unique environment that changes with each interaction. This immersive experience is both physical and psychological, encouraging users to engage with and reflect on their surroundings. The process of entering and emerging from Wendy is metaphorically akin to the products dispensed by a vending machine. However, in this case, the user is both the selector and the selected, coming out as a 'product' of their own encounter with the machine.
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This project, therefore, is not just an exploration of technology and interaction but also a metaphorical journey. It challenges users to consider their relationship with everyday objects and the environment around them. "Meet Wendy" offers a space where the boundaries between human and machine blur, providing a unique perspective on interaction and self-perception.